Maybe you got some next-generation gear over the holidays. Maybe you're just cleaning out unused cruft in this new year. Whatever the reason, you've got gadgets that need to go. Here's where to bring them for responsible, ecological, and (mostly) free recycling.

Update: Margaret emailed us with what seems like the most straightforward and easy search tool: Earth911's local recycling search. Type in what you want to recycle and your ZIP code, and you'll get some guidance.

Advertisement

With that in mind, almost everybody has a Best Buy, Goodwill, or Staples somewhere near them. Read up on their recycling programs, and learn about two other options you might not have considered:

Best Buy

Oddly enough, the electronics superstore that only just recently dropped a hefty restocking fee also has the most convenient and customer-friendly electronics recycling program around. Each household can bring in up to three items per day, including older-style CRT TVs (up to 32 inches in size), any flat-panel TV, monitors, cellphones, GPS units, DVD players—basically, if it has a plug and a display, and you can carry it, Best Buy takes it. There's a $10 charge for TVs and monitors, but you get that back in a $10 gift card. [Details]

Your Cellphone Maker or Service Provider

New cellphone packages often come with a pouch in which to mail back an older cellphone for recycling, or for re-purposing as an emergency 911 phone for community services. If your phone didn't, check out your current or past cellular provider. Each of them offers phone recylcing services, generally free and offered through both in-store drop-offs and postage-paid mail-ins. Your phone's maker (LG, Motorola, etc.) likely offers a similar low-hassle deal. [Details: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon; manufacturer details linked at EPA's Ecycling site]

Office Depot & Staples

Both of the office supply giants are fairly convenient for recycling smaller gadgets in different ways. Office Depot sells boxes (small, medium, and large for $5, $10, and $15, respectively) that you can fill with pretty much any gadget that fits, then drop it off for recycling. Staples does the smaller stuff for free, like phones, PDAs, calculators and the like. If you drop off TVs or monitors or other notably big gear, it's a $10 charge. It seems steep, but the back-end recycling groups such stores work through are often charging them very close to that amount themselves, or possibly a bit more. [Details: Office Depot, Staples]

Goodwill

The place thats synonymous with charitable drop-off partners with Dell to accept computers and monitors in "any condition," as well as any gear associated or attached to a computer. Its recycling program is free, and its web site is refreshingly simple. [Details]

Apple

Their recycling program is restricted to computers, iPods, and cellphones, but it makes it rewarding to turn them in. Recycle your old iPod or any brand of cellphone at an Apple store and you'll get 10 percent off the purchase of a new iPod. If you can't make it to a store, you can print out a prepaid shipping label. You can also recycle your older PC or Mac, desktop or laptop, through a prepaid shipping program through Apple, and if your older computer is worth anything, in reuse potential or just parts, that value will be applied to an Apple Store credit. Recycling any computer or display without worrying about the value is a straight $30, though you can ship it with a prepaid label. [Details]

Where do you recycle your gadgets and computer gear when it falls out of use? Tell us about recycling spots and ideas we missed in the comments, and we'll update the post with good picks.